Stella

 

Stella stumbled out the back door of The Kamp minutes after Rick. She had seen the light in his eyes dwindle. She had seen that light fade before when she had been helping Grandma with some of the older feral bears over the years. For some reason, watching it happen to Rick made her want to break down and cry. He hadn’t been what she would call a friend to her since she arrived, but there was something about him that called to her.

Once her eyes adjusted to the darkness outside, she looked around, but there was no Rick. Grandma stood at the wood line looking up.

“Grandma, did you see Rick come out here? I’m afraid his bear is close to going feral! He shouldn’t be alone.”

“He wasn’t alone, baby, he was with me,” Grandma said without turning to look at her.

“What do you mean?” Stella cried out. He couldn’t be gone.

Grandma turned to her, and her face was solemn. Stella fell to her knees. She had expected tears or sadness when she heard the news about Rick, but she felt nothing. Stella sat there for a while, and tried to dissect her feelings. In the end, all she could come up with was that she didn’t feel that Rick was gone.

“He’s not gone,” she said out loud to nobody. Grandma must have gone back inside.

Stella took off to find her. Grandma had done something, and Stella needed to know what. She needed to find Rick. Panic started to rise, and she tried to hold it back. Rick had been hot and cold with her, but she figured he was just another older, lonely shifter looking for comfort in a stupid human woman. Stella had learned that lesson already, and she wouldn’t fall victim to it again.

Rick had never made a move, though. That’s what had encouraged her to be his friend. They had had similar dealings and both of them had given up on finding love or a mate at their age. With the rest of the group finding their mates, a lot of times they ended up spending their time at The Kamp together. Stella felt a responsibility to find him and help him.

She slammed into the bar and sought out Grandma. She was standing by the front door beside Emma.

“Where is he?” she said low enough she hoped nobody else would hear.

Unfortunately, Emma’s newfound bear skills allowed her to hear everything.

“Where’s who?” Emma asked nonchalantly.

Neither Grandma nor Stella responded. They just looked at each other in a silent battle. Then a roar filled the room, and brought everyone but Stella to their knees. Then they all began to whimper. Austin was on his knees, but it had been his roar that had brought them all down. As alpha, he was finally feeling the separation from Rick. Stella kneeled out of respect, knowing that the pack would need to mourn.

After the initial shock wore off and everybody was released from Austin’s power surge, they all stood and huddled together.

“Why would he go off by himself? We could have helped him!” Kate said helplessly.

“Is he feral or is he gone?” Jasper asked Austin.

“He’s gone. He’s severed his ties from the pack. I assume that means he’s somewhere out there, feral. We must find him. As his pack mates, it’s our job to see him to the other side.”

They all nodded. Stella looked to Grandma as if to urge her to say something. The woman just stood there and offered comfort through her healing powers.

“He’s gone. You won’t find him around here,” Stella said out loud. It seemed involuntary, but as soon as she spoke the words she knew they were true. Rick was gone.

“What do you mean, Mom?” Emma asked.

“I don’t know how to explain it, but I know he’s not around here. If he’s severed ties with the pack, maybe he’s gone off to die somewhere by himself. I’m not sure. I just feel it.”

“Are you his mate?” Austin asked, stepping closer to her.

“No, nothing like that. Rick and I, we’re more like kindred spirits. We’ve had a lot of the same trials and tribulations so we understand each other. I feel connected to him, but not like a mate.”

“Then you don’t really know for sure. You’re just a human. You have a feeling but no substantial way to know if it’s correct or not. We need to comb the area,” Justin said.

“I may not be magical, but I can tell you that is an act of futility,” she said, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt.

“Justin’s right, let’s spread out and search,” Austin said, sending everybody out into the night.

Stella and Grandma were the only two left behind. Stella turned and looked at her. Why Grandma wouldn’t let Stella know what was happening was beyond her.

“Please, Grandma. Tell me where he is. I want to help him.”

“If you want to help, my dear, then you just need to feel. Seek him out. He’s there, waiting for you. There will be a battle, and you’ll feel her as well. She’s been waiting for this, lingering in the background. Be strong.”

“Who? What are you talking about, and what does it have to do with Rick?”

“I’ve already allowed you to know more than I should. Go, they will all search, but it’s only you who can find him.”

With that, Grandma left. Stella stood rooted to the floor for what felt like forever. She had no idea how to seek Rick out emotionally. She wasn’t magical. She wasn’t even his mate.